Chamberlen, Heflin victorious at EAL South Championships
Balanced Oroville squads captures both team titles
By JOSEPH SHUFELBERGER-Chico ER Sports Writer
Wednesday November 3, 2010
Lassen senior Tiffany Heflin's strong start has already opened up a gap on the field early in the the varsity girls race held near the Thermolito Forebay.
OROVILLE — A picturesque day at the Thermalito Forebay turned out to be a perfect one for the Oroville High cross country program as the Tigers topped the Eastern Athletic League South Meet, wrapping up championships Wednesday for both the boys and girls teams. Oroville was led by the Brandt twins, seniors Russell and Sarah, who each finished second in their respective races on the 3-mile course, but the Tigers also received several good times from their entire rosters.

"That's what you need in cross country. Five people to score really well, and they did today," said Oroville coach Michael Buchanan.

The Tigers coach had no problem telling his team what they had done. "This was a really awesome day. I'm extremely proud of you guys," he told both squads after the awards ceremony. The work, the dedication, "has shown up in three plaques, three league championships," Buchanan said, not forgetting a junior varsity title as well.

While Buchanan, in his 13th year coaching the team, said it was the school's first cross country league title, he was most excited
for the seniors. "In Sarah's case, she's been all-league, qualified for state. She's won everything but a league championship. This completes her career," he said. The Brandts could still have two more chances to add to their numerous achievements with the Northern Section meet set for next Wednesday at West Valley High in Cottonwood. After that, the state meet is Nov. 27 in Fresno.

Among individuals, Paradise's Dylan Chamberlen reclaimed the course record with a blazing time of 15 minutes, 49 seconds. Prior to Wednesday's race, Russell Brandt set the course mark of 16:03 just last week at a dual meet against Las Plumas, eclipsing Chamberlen's mark of 16:14 set earlier this fall. Chamberlen wasn't to be denied as he took off from the beginning. "I was just going to go," he said. "I wasn't going to try to run behind someone. I wanted to lead out, set the pace and see what happened." What happened was a dominating performance from the junior who has competed in track but is in his first year of cross country.

Russell Brandt finished a distant second with a time of 16:30. "I tried to go out fast. At first, I went out a little too fast," he said. Brandt, though, is looking forward to the section meet. "I like the West Valley course, it's rocky," he said, and the Forebay course is, "mostly flat and fast." Chamberlen's teammate, Eli Stillman, was third in 16:37. Lassen's Marcus Emmert was fourth in 16:52. Oroville's Dillon Geltz was fifth in 16:53. In sixth was Red Bluff's Ben Watland at 17:05, and Oroville's Matthew Johnson was seventh at 17:14. The top seven finishers for each race earned all-league status.
 
Russell Brandt finished a distant second with a time of 16:30. "I tried to go out fast. At first, I went out a little too fast," he said. Brandt, though, is looking forward to the section meet. "I like the West Valley course, it's rocky," he said, and the Forebay course is, "mostly flat and fast." Chamberlen's teammate, Eli Stillman, was third in 16:37. Lassen's Marcus Emmert was fourth in 16:52. Oroville's Dillon Geltz was fifth in 16:53. In sixth was Red Bluff's Ben Watland at 17:05, and Oroville's Matthew Johnson was seventh at 17:14. The top seven finishers for each race earned all-league status.

Nate Inkman of Oroville was 10th at 17:34, helping the Tigers to a team score of 39. Paradise was second at 51, Red Bluff third at 57, Lassen fourth at 73 and Las Plumas fifth at 131. Wednesday's team scores factored into the final league standings, which included the league dual meets. Oroville came out on top there as well with Paradise and Red Bluff tied for second, Lassen fourth and Las Plumas fifth.

For the girls, Lassen's Tiffany Heflin showed why she's the defending section champion, finishing first in 18:59. Sarah Brandt was second in 19:34. "I was trying to keep her in sight," Brandt said. "She's one heck of a rabbit." Brandt, though, was happy with how far she's come after struggling earlier in the season before finding out she was anemic.

"Fatigue set in really fast, even during warm-ups," Brandt said as she described how much her condition affected her before it was known. Brandt said she's taking iron supplements and added she feels she's about 80 percent of the way back, but is looking forward to competing in track next spring where she runs in the 800 meters, the 3,200 and the 1,600 relay.

But on Wednesday, she had one thing on her mind: "This is our first league championship. That's exciting." Oroville's depth was impressive as the Tigers had five of the top eight finishers. Rosy Reyes was fourth in 20:56, Courtney Johnson was fifth in 21:02, Christina Ferretti placed seventh in 21:45 and Molly Finn was eighth at 22:18. That gave the Tigers 21 points, easily besting Red Bluff's 44 and Paradise's 58. Lassen and Las Plumas had incomplete teams. Overall league standings had the same order.

The remaining All-League honors went to Paradise's Annie Stratton with her third place finish (19:54), and Red Bluff's Erin Eicholtz, sixth in 21:42.
Paradise's Dylan Chamberlen retakes the course record on the North Forebay State Recreation course near Thermolito, pulling way early from Russell Brandt and never looking back.  

Complete Results
EAL South Championships-Las Plumas host (HS)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
North Forebay State Recreation Area
Oroville, CA


Boys Results  
2 Mile Junior Varsity 
==============================================================
 1   Justin Garcia          Las Plumas            10     12:25
 2   DJ Muller              Oroville               9     12:31
 3   Michael Ripley         Oroville               9     12:34
 4   Jordan Collins         Las Plumas            10     12:42
 5   Lake Gee               Oroville               9     13:00
 6   Luke Lundberg          Oroville               9     13:06
 7   Aza Bravo              Red Bluff              9     13:06
 8   Jesse Ramirez          Lassen                 9     13:11
 9   Bill Yang              Las Plumas            10     13:29
10   Jim Carrillo           Las Plumas             9     13:44
11   Nicholas Larsen        Las Plumas            10     13:44
12   Ian Borchard           Red Bluff              9     14:19
13   Grey Grotke            Red Bluff              9     14:29
14   Chris White            Oroville               9     14:40
15   Justin Levoua-Patidar  Red Bluff             10     14:52
16   Josey Hardwick         Las Plumas            10     14:52
17   Samuel Parmentier      Oroville               9     15:19
18   Tyler Laskey           Lassen                 9     15:24
19   Yarnell Jones          Oroville               9     16:12
20   Joshua Feise           Red Bluff             10     17:06
21   Micah Carey            Red Bluff             10     17:34
22   David Huston           Oroville               9     20:17
23   Gurjus Singh           Oroville               9     24:11

3 Mile Varsity 
==============================================================
 1   Dylan Chamberlen       Paradise              11     15:49
 2   Russell Brandt         Oroville              12     16:30
 3   Eli Stillman           Paradise              12     16:37
 4   Marcus Emmert          Lassen                11     16:52
 5   Dillon Geltz           Oroville              11     16:53
 6   Ben Watland            Red Bluff             12     17:05
 7   Matt Johnson           Oroville              10     17:14
 8   Mike McCullough        Lassen                11     17:16
 9   Eric Espinosa          Red Bluff             11     17:28
10   Nate Inkman            Oroville              12     17:34
11   Justin McGlone         Paradise               9     17:52
12   Garritt Sanders        Red Bluff             12     18:01
13   Jordan McManus         Red Bluff             10     18:05
14   Zane Suarez            Lassen                12     18:34
15   Jose Zavala            Oroville              12     18:41
16   Matt White             Paradise              10     18:44
17   Jacobe Conrad          Red Bluff             11     19:03
18   Kyle Rodriguez         Red Bluff             12     19:19
19   Colin Dahlberg         Red Bluff             12     19:23
20   Brent Rowse            Paradise              11     19:30
21   Justin Cooley          Las Plumas            12     19:35
22   Skyler Friedline       Lassen                11     19:48
23   Justin Frazier         Paradise               9     19:50
24   Daniel Marcy           Las Plumas            12     20:00
25   Dakota Sandborg        Lassen                 -     20:04
26   Will Spiess            Paradise              12     20:11
27   Kenny Smith            Las Plumas            12     20:51
28   Stephen Cordiero       Oroville              12     20:57
29   Max Cordiero           Oroville              11     21:10
30   Logan Pickering        Paradise              10     21:22
31   Stephen Lutes          Red Bluff             12     21:30
32   Sean Pickering         Paradise              11     21:34
33   Harrison Taylor        Las Plumas            12     21:51
34   Will Roberson          Paradise               9     21:53
35   Zachary Brown          Red Bluff             12     22:09
36   Josh O'Hare            Las Plumas            12     22:20
37   Loxang Yang            Oroville               -     22:48
38   Cody Parmentier        Oroville              11     24:30 
39   Jacob Margetts         Paradise              11     25:03 

Girls Results  
2 Mile Junior Varsity 
==============================================================
 1   Sofia Oropeza          Red Bluff              9     15:11
 2   Natasha Witzsche       Oroville               9     16:03
 3   Cassie Rossiter        Oroville              10     16:16
 4   Kellie Fernandez       Las Plumas             9     16:27
 5   Hailee Cronin          Paradise               9     16:46
 6   Baylee Danz            Paradise               9     16:50
 7   Camille Chamberlen     Paradise               9     16:57
 8   Amanda Nelson          Oroville              10     17:03
 9   Mirandah Dickerson     Red Bluff              9     17:07
10   Alyssa Crabtree        Paradise               9     17:39
11   Julianna Wiggins       Paradise              10     17:51
12   Trinie Suarez          Lassen                 -     18:50
13   Lexi Gilbert           Las Plumas            10     20:23
14   Kirsten Provencial     Las Plumas             9     23:26

3 Mile Varsity 
==============================================================
 1   Tiffany Heflin         Lassen                12     18:59
 2   Sarah Brandt           Oroville              12     19:34
 3   Annie Stratton         Paradise              10     19:54
 4   Rosy Reyes             Oroville              10     20:19
 5   Courtney Johnson       Oroville              12     20:56
 6   Erin Eicholtz          Red Bluff             12     21:02
 7   Christina Ferretti     Oroville              11     21:42
 8   Molly Finn             Oroville              12     22:11
 9   Katie Parks            Red Bluff             12     22:18
10   Jessica Taylor         Red Bluff             11     22:32
11   Ali Rank               Paradise               9     22:48
12   Taylor Hackstaff       Red Bluff              9     22:50
13   Adrienne Hinkston      Red Bluff              9     23:01
14   Alexandria Dahnke      Red Bluff             10     23:06
15   Michelle Gamer         Paradise              10     23:16
16   Grace Rhodehouse       Paradise              12     23:27
17   Janis Carrillo         Las Plumas            11  	 24:43 
18   MaKenzie Kohler        Las Plumas            12     25:14 
19   Adriana Pavich         Oroville              11     25:43 
20   Aubrey Danz            Paradise              12     26:08 
21   Ann Cain               Lassen                10     27:43 
22   Cassie Oxley           Paradise              11     27:53 
23   Victoria Uribe         Paradise              11     27:57